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Upcoming major traffic impacts in Ottawa

For ongoing traffic impacts, including updates on construction and roadwork, information about traffic and for travel planning, visit the City’s traffic map or follow the City’s traffic account on Twitter.

  • MacLaren Street westbound, from Kent to Bay streets, will close from Monday, March 31 until early November for excavation and work related to Integrated renewal, MacLaren Street and Lyon Street project. Access will be maintained for local traffic only.
  • Bank Street, from Riverside Drive westbound to the Transitway, will have lane reductions in both directions from Monday, March 24 until Monday, June 30 as part of the Bank Street renewal project. Please watch for signs and occasional flagging. Pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained through the work zone at all times. Some bus stops may be relocated slightly when work is underway in their vicinity. Please follow OCtranspo.com for updates.
  • Highway 174 - the following Highway 174 ramp and lanes will be closed for Stage 2 LRT roadwork:
    • Westbound Highway 174 from Taylor Creek Drive to Tenth Line Road will be reduced to one lane daily between 10 am and 3 pm from Thursday, March 27 to Wednesday, April 2.
    • Westbound Highway 174 at Jeanne d'Arc Boulevard will be fully closed nightly between 10 pm and 5:30 am from Wednesday, April 2 to Friday, April 4.
    • Eastbound Highway 174 at Jeanne d'Arc Boulevard will be fully closed nightly between 10 pm and 5:30 am from Tuesday, April 1 to Wednesday, April 2.
  • Northbound Orléans Boulevard at Highway 174 will be reduced to one lane daily between 9:30 am and 5 pm from Monday, March 24 to Friday, April 4.
  • Northbound Jeanne d'Arc Boulevard at Highway 174 will be reduced to one lane daily between 9:30 am and 3 pm from Monday, April 31 to Friday, April 4.
  • Southbound Trim Road will be fully closed between Highway 174 and Taylor Creek Drive at 9 pm on Wednesday, April 2 to Thursday, April 3 at 5:30 am.
  • Westbound Richmond Road between Ancaster Avenue and New Orchard Avenue will be fully closed on Saturday, March 29 between 7 am and 5 pm.
  • Westbound Richmond Road between Ancaster Avenue and New Orchard Avenue will be fully closed at 8 pm on Monday, March 31 until 5:30 am on Tuesday, April 1.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Pavement Markings

Pavement markings are important for the safety of all road users, especially during nighttime driving. Wear on road paint is accelerated where traffic volumes are high and snow, salt and grit further limits durability.

The annual pavement marking renewal program begins by May, following the start of road sweeping operations. All existing paint on the road is refreshed each year, including all intersection markings, longitudinal roadway lines, cycling facilities, traffic calming measures, and more.

Most of this work occurs at night when traffic volumes are low. In rural areas some work is completed during the daytime.

Priority

By May each year, crews are deployed all over Ottawa in the following priority sequencing:

  1. Locations with irregular markings, and/or significant safety concerns
  2. Cycling facilities and pedestrian crossovers (PXO)
  3. High-volume roads and intersections
  4. Low-volume roads

All pavement markings will be refreshed as part of this regularly scheduled maintenance, rather than based on requests from the public.

To request a change to existing pavement markings or the installation of new pavement markings, contact 3-1-1.

Equipment and Type of Paint

Several different vehicles and paint are used to refresh over 6,500 intersections and countless kilometres of roadway each year.

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) paint truck:

  • Operates June to September, requiring warmer temperatures than other paint;
  • The 2022 season is the second year applying MMA paint which is highly durable, having potential to reduce the workload of the annual maintenance program over time.

Acetone and Water-based paint truck:

  • Operates May to November;
  • Uses acetone-based paint in cooler spring and fall months, and water-based paint during warmer months.

Additional equipment for specialty markings

  • Includes application of thermal plastic designs
Methyl methacrylate road paint truck

Truck routes and seasonal load restrictions

Seasonal Load Restrictions

Seasonal load restrictions will be in effect as of Monday, March 17, 2025

Image of sign signalling load restrictions on a road.

During the spring thaw period, typically early March to mid-May, some roads cannot withstand heavy vehicle loads. Every year, the City of Ottawa monitors thaw progression by utilizing the forecast temperature data from Environment Canada and Weather Network to calculate the Thaw and Freezing Indices. When the Thaw Index reaches its threshold value, the load restrictions are imposed. Depending on the progression of the spring thaw, restrictions can come into effect quickly, sometimes with only a few days’ notice. Once the pavement strength has been restored, the load restrictions are removed. For more information on the SLR program, including program changes and up-to-date application process, please refer to this memorandum link.

Local restrictions will remain in effect on the identified City roads until further notice (typically, mid-May).

For further information on seasonal load restrictions, please call 3-1-1.

Low-Speed Vehicles

A Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) is an electrically powered vehicle that can reach a maximum speed of 40 kilometres per hour. Due to the low-speed constraint, these vehicles are typically used for short distance travel in urban areas or within restricted facilities. They often support local deliveries and other services such as municipal maintenance or park area servicing.

A low-speed vehicle has many of the same characteristics as a typical motorized vehicle but is typically much smaller in size compared to other vehicles and can manoeuvre through smaller city streets and traffic with ease.

Transport Canada has information about low-speed vehicles at Question and answer for Low-Speed Vehicles (canada.ca)

Low-Speed Electric Vehicle
Safety Features

Low-speed vehicles must be operated in accordance with Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act and must meet the requirements of Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA). They are not designed to the same crashworthiness standard as regular vehicles because of their limitation for use in low-speed environments.  They also require a ‘slow-moving vehicle’ sign on the back warning other drivers of their slow speed.

Furthermore, all low-speed vehicles will be required by Transport Canada to incorporate audible sound emissions starting in 2023. Electric-powered vehicles are quiet and can pose a danger those who are blind or partially sighted, so the sound emission provides an auditory warning of their approach.

Environmental Impact

Low-speed vehicles are a more environmentally friendly method of transportation as opposed to traditional gas and diesel powered vehicles. They replace large vehicles consuming fossil fuels with much smaller vehicles that do not produce any tailpipe smoke or smog - allowing for significant reduction of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Pilot Program

Low-speed vehicles are permitted in Ontario under a provincial pilot project valid until June  2027: Ontario Regulation 215/17.  The City of Ottawa approved their operation through a municipal by-law, as required by the provincial regulation, which came into effect in August 2022.  Applications to operate a low-speed vehicle may be submitted to the City for review and, once approved, organizations may test their low-speed vehicles for up to one year (renewable).  The City of Ottawa will collect information and feedback in support of the provincial review of this pilot program. 

Provincial Rules for Low-Speed Vehicles

The Province of Ontario requires that all low-speed vehicles be registered with Service Ontario. Each operator must apply to obtain a special low-speed vehicle license plate and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) approved by the province. As part of this process, a low-speed vehicle declaration must be completed, acknowledging that the vehicle is part of a provincial wide pilot program, that it does not possess all the same safety features as a typical vehicle, and that it will only be used in jurisdictions where operation has been approved. A link to this declaration form and additional information can be found on Low-speed vehicle pilot program | ontario.ca

How to Apply for a City of Ottawa Low-Speed Vehicle Permit

To apply to operate a low-speed vehicle in Ottawa, each company must fill out declaration form stating that the company understands the requirements of the pilot program, and that there is an decreased number of safety features as opposed to a regular motor vehicle. Each company also must provide proof of insurance and liability coverage and demonstrate the vehicle has been registered with the Province of Ontario.

For more information about low-speed vehicles in Ottawa or to apply for a permit to operate, please contact lsv-vbv@ottawa.ca.

Low-Speed Vehicles (By-law No. 2022-276)

Reporting Issues

Issues regarding operation of LSVs in Ottawa can be reported by calling 3-1-1 or by contacting 311@ottawa.ca or dialling 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.